Guard and dolly for line trimming apparatus

ABSTRACT

A guard and dolly for mounting a line trimming apparatus and maintaining the rotating spool or cutting element of the line trimming apparatus in a selected orientation with respect to the ground, in order to cut grass at a selected height above the ground regardless of the contour of the terrain, trim the grass adjacent to a structure such as a fence and edge along fixed structures such as a driveway or sidewalk. In a first embodiment a guard is provided with a tab-and-slot opening for receiving and mounting a corresponding motor coupling flange attached to the line trimming apparatus motor or frame. In a second embodiment, a universal dolly is characterized by a frame provided with front, rear and side wheel receptacles for receiving two or three wheels at selected receptacle locations and supporting the dolly frame in rolling relationship in a horizontal plane on a lawn for operation of the line trimmer in mowing, trimming and edging configurations.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional ApplicationSerial No. 60/091,807, filed Jul. 6, 1998 and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/347,476 filed Jul. 2, 1999 now U.S. Pat.No. 6,370,854.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to line trimming devices and more particularly,to a guard and a dolly for receiving and mounting a line trimming deviceor apparatus and mowing, edging and trimming a lawn. The guard of thisinvention includes a shaped debris-deflection device having atab-and-slot opening for receiving and mounting a corresponding couplingflange attached to the line trimming apparatus motor in a free-handtrimming configuration. In a second embodiment of the invention auniversal dolly is broadly characterized by a dolly frame shaped andadapted for receiving a gasoline-powered or electric line trimmer forvarious lawn mowing, trimming and edging functions. The dolly ischaracterized by a frame base and plate having front, side and rearwheel receptacles for selectively receiving brackets which rotatablymount the wheels. In a first application of the dolly, three wheels areattached by means of the brackets to the side and the center rear wheelreceptacle locations for supporting the dolly frame and line trimmer inrolling relationship in a horizontal plane for operation of the linetrimmer in a mowing configuration. In a second application, the wheelsin the side wheel receptacles are rearranged in the outside rear wheelreceptacles to support the dolly frame and line trimmer in a horizontalplane for operation of the line trimmer in a trimming configuration. Inyet another application of the dolly the wheels are attached to thefront wheel receptacles only, to support the dolly frame and linetrimmer in a vertical plane for operation of the line trimmer in anedging configuration. Accordingly, the line trimmer can be attached to aguard without wheels for use as a free-hand trimmer, as well as auniversal dolly for disposition in mowing, trimming and edgingconfigurations. In both of the embodiments, the line trimming apparatusis fitted with a motor coupling flange that engages a correspondingtab-and-slot opening in the guard and dolly frame, respectively, toremovably mount the line trimming device on the free-hand trimmer anduniversal dolly, respectively.

One of the problems which exists in the use of conventional electric andgasoline-powered lawn mowers is that of cutting grass to a uniformheight on lawns characterized by uneven terrain. Since the spacingbetween the front and rear wheels of a conventional lawn mower typicallyranges from about 18 inches to about 30 inches, depending upon the lawnmower design, grass which is cut from the top of small hummocks andhills, as well as on other uneven terrain, is frequently shorter thanthat cut on level terrain or in small valleys, This problem is notalleviated by cutting the grass in a direction perpendicular to thenormal direction of mower travel, since the span of the wheels rangesfrom about 18 inches to about 24 inches and this distance mandatescutting the grass either higher or shorter than desired, depending uponthe nature of the terrain traversed by the mower.

Conventional line trimmers such as the line trimmer marketed under thewell known “Weed Eater” trademark, are frequently used to trim grass ininaccessible areas where lawn mowers cannot be operated or in hilly orirregular areas where the terrain will not permit a lawn mower to cutthe grass at a uniform height. However, since line trimmers are held byhand, cutting of the grass to a uniform height in such areas isextremely difficult and frequently results in “scalping” of the lawn orcutting and trimming the grass unevenly in these areas.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Line edgers and trimmers have long been known and used for trimming andedging lawns and other grassy and weed-infested areas. Typical of thesedevices are the devices disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,047,299, and3,859,776. Accessory devices are also used in connection with “edgers”and line trimmers and typical of these devices is the attachmentdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,587,749, dated Jun. 28, 1971, to Gerald P.Sauer, entiled “A Lawn Edger Attachment For A Power Saw”. In this patentthe saw blade of an electric power saw is replaced with a two-sideground cutter blade and the power saw is attached to and carried by awheeled carrier. A shoe on the power saw is attached to a base plate ofthe carrier and the shoe and cutter blade are adjustable relative toeach other, in order to adjust the blade cutting height. Apivotally-mounted handle, by which the carrier may be pushed, carries aswitch for stopping and starting the electric motor which drives thesaw. The carrier base plate is supported on three wheels for ease ofturning and maneuvering. An “Attachment For Line Trimmer” is disclosedin U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,784, dated Sep. 30, 1980, to Lee A. Hansen. Thisdevice is designed to convert a line trimmer to an edge trimmer andincludes a collar with support legs attached thereto and wheels attachedto the support legs. A U-shaped brace extends between the support legs,in order to hold the support legs at an angle with respect to eachother. The collar is placed loosely around the handle of an existingline trimmer and the line trimmer is inverted, in order to present thespool thereof perpendicular to the ground. The legs are inserted intothe collar and the collar is then secured to the handle, with the headof the line trimmer located between the ends of the U-shaped brace. U.S.Pat. No. 4,312,178, dated Jan. 26, 1982, to Allie Callaghan, details a“Lawn Edging Machine”. The patent discloses a balanced, self-propelledand manually guided lawn edge in which an edging cutter blade ispositioned near the inner side and rearwardly of the larger of twotraction wheels of unequal diameter, mounted on a common drive axle. Thesmaller traction wheel can be axially adjusted relative to the largerwheel to regulate the angle of cut adjacent to a side wall or a curbing.A “Dolly For Lawn Trimmer and Combination Thereof” is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 4,442,659, dated Apr. 17, 1984, to H. J. Enbusk. The patentdetails a trimmer supported on a dolly, each of which trimmer and dollyis provided with a handle. The operator holds the dolly handle in onehand and the trimmer handle in the other hand and the trimmer ispivotally connected to the dolly, whereby movement of the handle of thetrimmer relative to the dolly handle changes the approach angle of thetrimmer relative to the movement of the dolly. The pivoted connection ispositioned forward of the dolly wheels, whereby raising and lowering thedolly handle effects lowering and raising of the trimmer and thecorresponding depth of cut. The pivoted connection includes adjustmentmeans to adjust the positions of the trimmer relative to the dolly. U.S.Pat. No. 4,446,680, dated May 8, 1984, to Thomas C. D'Alessandro,details a “Battery Powered Lawn Edger”. The device includes a framesupported on at least three wheels, which frame securely carries one ormore rechargeable wet-cell batteries, as well as a pivotally-mountedsub-assembly having a heavy duty, series-wound drive motor, a rigidedger blade mounted on the drive motor output shaft and a blade guard.Re-charging may be accomplished by interconnection to a conventionalautomotive charging system, a battery charger or to a 115-volt powersource. The blade is positioned to rotate in a plane generallyperpendicular to the ground and a blade-positioning lever is pivotallyattached to the main guide handle for vertical adjustment of the blade.A drive motor on-off switch attachable to the handle is also providedand a removable cover may be provided for protecting the batteryenergizers. One or more of the wheels may also include drive means forlocomotion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,544, dated Aug. 7, 1984, to AnthonyCarsello, et al, details an “Edger”. The edger is provided with arotatable cutting blade for trimming grass, weeds and the like. Thecutting blade is driven by a motor mounted within a motor housing whichis, in turn, supported for rotation about a longitudinal axis between afront wheel assembly and a rear wheel assembly. A locking mechanism iscarried by the motor housing and is provided with a pair ofspring-biased lugs normally received into locking recesses in the frontand rear wheel assemblies to lock the motor housing into a selectedrotational position and thereby lock the cutting blade at a selectedangular orientation. My U.S. Pat. No. 4,796,415, dated Jan. 10, 1989,describes a “Dolly For Line Trimming Apparatus” characterized by a splitframe provided with removable front and rear legs and removable sidelegs for selectively receiving wheels and supporting the dolly inrolling relationship on a lawn, driveway or sidewalk. The frame receivesa line trimming apparatus and maintains the rotating spool of theapparatus in a selected orientation with respect to the ground, in orderto cut the grass at a selected height above the ground regardless of thecontour of the terrain, trim grass adjacent to a structure and edgealong fixed structures. Other patents detailing various mowing andtrimming configurations include U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,043, issued Aug. 26,1952, to G. D. Berdan; U.S. Pat. No. 2,721,433, dated Oct. 25, 1955,also to Berdan; U.S. Pat. No. 2,942,397, dated Jun. 28, 1960, to Clark;U.S. Pat. No. 4,182,100, dated Jan. 8, 1980, to Letter; U.S. Pat. No.4,587,800, dated May 13, 1986, to Jimenez; U.S. Pat. No. 4,922,694,dated May 8, 1990, to Emoto; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,309,701, dated May 10,1994, to McGuerty.

An object of this invention is to provide a free-hand line trimmingapparatus characterized by a guard having a tab-and-slot opening and aline trimming apparatus with a coupling flange provided thereon forengaging the tab-and-slot opening and coupling the apparatus to theguard.

Another object of this invention to provide a new and improved dolly fora line trimming apparatus, which dolly is characterized by a frame forremovably receiving the motor, body or housing of a line trimmer andhaving square or star-shaped wheel-carrying front, rear and sidereceptacles for adapting the line trimmer to edge, trim and mow grassand cut weeds.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a universal dolly forreceiving and adapting a line trimming apparatus to edge, mow and trimgrass and weeds, which universal dolly includes a typically metal orplastic dolly frame for removably receiving the frame, body or motorhousing of a line trimming apparatus and wheel mount brackets fittedwith wheels, selectively positioned on the dolly frame for convertingthe dolly into trimming, mowing and edging configurations, respectively.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a universal dollyfor receiving and mounting a gasoline or an electric-powered linetrimming apparatus, which dolly is characterized by removable wheelsselectively arranged on the dolly by means of L-shaped wheel brackets,wherein the line trimming apparatus can be utilized to mow, edge or trima lawn or yard by rearranging the wheel location and operation of theline trimming apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a dolly for receivingand mounting an electrically-operated line trimmer by means of atab-and-slot coupling mechanism and a sliding collar, which dollyincludes removable front, side and rear wheels selectively arranged onthe dolly to facilitate various configurations of the dolly andoperation of the line trimmer and the dolly to mow, trim and edge alawn.

Another object of this invention is to provide a dolly which ischaracterized by a shaped, typically metal or plastic frame, havingframe receptacles and at least two wheels rotatably mounted on the framereceptacles at selected locations, which frame is further provided witha tab-and-slot or bayonet-type opening adapted to receive and mount aline trimmer having a correspondingly-shaped coupling flange, formowing, trimming and edging a lawn or yard by rotation of the wheels andoperation of the selectively-configured dolly and line trimmer.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a universal dollywhich is characterized by a typically fiberglass, plastic or metal frameand either three wheels or a pair of wheels positioned at selectedreceptacle locations on the frame, which frame is also fitted with aslotted opening adapted to receive a tabbed motor coupling flange on aline trimmer, such that the line trimmer and dolly cooperate tofacilitate edging, mowing and trimming a lawn or yard.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new andimproved universal dolly having a dolly frame with a bayonet ortab-and-slot opening for removably receiving the coupling flange of agasoline powered or electric line trimmer, along with a spring-loadedcollar for engaging the line trimmer handle and facilitating arrangementof two or three wheels on the dolly frame, such that the line trimmercan be oriented into various configurations for mowing, edging andtrimming a lawn or yard by changing the wheel configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are provided in a free-handline trimming apparatus having a tab and slot locking flange forengaging a correspondingly-shaped tab and slot opening in a guard andremovably locking the guard on the line trimming apparatus. In a secondembodiment, a wheeled dolly having a shaped frame provided with front,side and rear wheel receptacles and a lock-and-tab type opening, whichopening is adapted to receive the like-shaped coupling flange of anelectric or gasoline-powered line trimmer and two or three wheels areselectively oriented to mow, edge or trim a lawn by arranging thepositions of the wheels on brackets fitted in the frame wheelreceptacles. The dolly frame mounts two wheels in first and secondconfigurations and three wheels in a third configuration, for receivingthe line trimmer and orienting the line trimmer in functional positionto edge, trim and mow a lawn, respectively.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical line trimmer and guardembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a typical line trimmer motor and shaft,fitted with a coupling flange for mounting the guard illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the guard illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective, exploded view of a preferred universal dollyfor receiving and mounting a conventional gasoline-powered or electricline trimmer according to this invention;

FIG. 5 is a side view, partially in section, of a typical bracket flangefor mounting wheels, on the dolly illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation of the universal dolly illustrated in FIG. 4,assembled with left, right and rear wheels and a guard added to thehorizontally-oriented dolly frame and an electric line trimmer mountedon the frame in mowing configuration;

FIG. 7 is a top elevation of the universal dolly illustrated in FIG. 1,with an electric line trimmer mounted on the dolly and the wheelsoriented in outside rear wheel receptacles in trimming configuration;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of the universal dolly with the wheelsmounted on the front wheel receptacles of the vertically-oriented dollyframe, to facilitate an edging function of the electric line trimmeralong a sidewalk;

FIG. 9 is a front elevation of the universal dolly illustrated in FIG.8, in the edging configuration;

FIG. 10 is an alternative star-shaped wheel receptacle design forremovably securing the wheels to the universal dolly;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of a wheel mount bracket; and

FIGS. 11a-11 c show a wheel mount bracket inserted in a star-shapedreceptacle at various positions to adjust wheel height.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, a typical line trimmingapparatus which can be utilized in both embodiments of this invention isgenerally illustrated by reference numeral 9. The line trimmingapparatus 9 is characterized by a motor 10, to which is connected acutting element, spool or attachment 45 a (illustrated in FIG. 9) inconventional fashion. A motor coupling flange 11 is typically attachedto the motor 10 and the motor coupling flange 11 is characterized byalternating flange slots 12, which define flange tabs 13. An apparatusshaft or handle 14 typically extends from the top of the motor 10 and isfitted with a shaft collar 21, a top grip 27 and a middle grip 28. Atrigger switch (not illustrated) is typically provided in the top grip27 in conventional fashion for selectively energizing the motor 10. Anelectric power cord 29 extends from the top grip 27 for connecting anextension cord (not illustrated) of suitable size and design forsupplying power to the motor 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the guard 19 includes a guard motor couplingopening 15 which is configured with alternating guard coupling slots 16,that define guard coupling tabs 17, with a lock tab 18 shaped in two ofthe guard coupling tabs 17. This design facilitates mounting the motorcoupling flange 11 and the attached motor 10 to the guard 19 byinserting the respective flange tabs 13 of the motor coupling flange 11into the corresponding guard coupling slots 16 of the guard motorcoupling opening 15 and twisting the motor 10 and the motor couplingflange 11, typically in the counterclockwise direction as the linetrimming apparatus 9 and the guard 19 are viewed in FIGS. 1 and 3, toseat two of the flange tabs 13 on top of the downwardly-extending locktabs 18 and the remaining flange tabs 13 under the remaining three guardcoupling tabs 17, and secure the motor coupling flange 11 in the guardmotor coupling opening 15. Release of the motor coupling flange 11 fromthe guard motor coupling opening 15 is effected by exerting downward andclockwise pressure on the apparatus handle 14 to facilitate sliding twoof the flange tabs 13 off the slot tabs 18 and the remaining threeflange tabs 13 from beneath the corresponding three guard coupling tabs17, and further twisting the motor coupling flange 11 and the motor 10in the clockwise direction to again align the respective flange tabs 13and corresponding guard coupling slots 16.

In the second embodiment of this invention the line trimming apparatus 9is designed to mount on a universal dolly, generally illustrated byreference numeral 1 in FIG. 4 of the drawing. The universal dolly 1 ischaracterized by a shaped dolly frame 2, having a frame base 4 and aflat frame plate 5, provided with a dolly motor coupling opening 6. Thedolly motor coupling opening 6 is preferably a tab-and-slot orbayonet-type opening having the same design and configuration as theguard motor coupling opening 15 illustrated in FIG. 1, and is fittedwith dolly coupling slots 7, defined by dolly coupling tabs 8, asillustrated in FIG. 4. The dolly frame 2 is designed to receive a linetrimming apparatus 9 having a motor 10, such as the line trimmingapparatus 9 illustrated in FIG. 1, which may have either a gasolinemotor or an electric motor, as illustrated. The motor 10 is fitted witha motor coupling flange 11, as in the case of the line trimmingapparatus 9 illustrated in FIG. 1. As heretofore described with respectto FIG. 2, the motor coupling flange 11 has flange slots 12, defined byflange tabs 13 that are designed to match and fit the dolly motorcoupling opening 6, such that the respective flange tabs 13 of the motorcoupling flange 11 initially register with corresponding dolly couplingslots 7 bordering the dolly motor coupling opening 6 and facilitatetwisting of the motor 10 and the motor coupling flange 11 to engage theflange tabs 13 with the two lock tabs 18 and three of the dolly couplingtabs 8, respectively, as heretofore described with respect to FIGS. 1-3.When this maneuver is accomplished, the universal dolly 1 is configuredas illustrated in FIG. 4, with the apparatus handle 14 extending fromfixed attachment to the motor 10 and lying adjacent to a concave surface26 of a brace bracket 25, welded or otherwise provided on one end of ashaft brace 24. The opposite end of the shaft brace 24 is fitted in abrace receptacle 20, molded in or provided on the rear of the dollyframe 2 and is secured by a brace mount bolt 24 b, extending through aregistering brace receptacle opening 20 a and a brace opening 24 a, asillustrated in FIG. 4. A shaft collar 21 is slidably disposed on themotor shaft 14 against a shaft collar spring 22 seated on a spring pin23, extending through the apparatus handle 14, as illustrated in FIG. 4.Accordingly, it will be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 4 thatthe apparatus handle 14 can be removably secured to the brace bracket 25of the shaft brace 24 when seated in the concave surface 26 of the shaftbrace 24, as the shaft collar 21 is retracted against the shaft collarspring 22. When the shaft collar 21 is released and seated by the shaftcollar spring 22 on the brace bracket 25, the motor coupling flange 11is prevented from vibrating or otherwise loosening in the dolly motorcoupling opening 6, to maintain the line trimming apparatus 9 securelyon the dolly frame 2 of the universal dolly 1.

As further illustrated in FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, three wheels 30 aremounted on corresponding wheel mount brackets 33. Each wheel mountbracket 33 has a bracket flange 34 fitted with a flange opening 35, forreceiving a wheel bolt 31 and a nut 3, and securing each of therespective wheels 30 to a corresponding wheel mount bracket 33. Thewheel mount brackets 33 are generally shaped in an “L” configuration,wherein a stub axle 38 extends from the bracket flange 34 and may beinserted in the respective front wheel receptacles 36, side wheelreceptacles 32 and rear wheel receptacles 40, provided in the frame base4 of the dolly frame 2 as further illustrated in FIG. 4. In a firstpreferred embodiment of the invention the stub axles 38 of therespective wheel mount brackets 33 are inserted in square front wheelreceptacles 36, side wheel receptacles 32 and rear wheel receptacles 40and may be provided with a conventional spring-loaded axle lock ball 39,which fits in a corresponding ball groove or recess 39 a, located in theframe base 4 of the dolly frame 2. Alternatively, the opening in theframe base 4 of the dolly frame 2 which receives the stub axle 38 may bea star receptacle 37, having star points 37 a defined by star slots 37b, for receiving the square stub axle 38, as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and11A-11C. In this manner, the stub axle 38 can be fitted into therespective star slots 37 b of the star receptacle 37 to position thecorresponding wheel mount brackets 33 and wheels 30 in any desiredheight on the dolly frame 2, as further illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C. Inthis embodiment of the invention the axle lock ball 39 may be providedat one corner of the stub axle 38 as illustrated in FIG. 11, tofacilitate engaging a corresponding ball groove 39 a provided in theframe base 4, as illustrated in FIGS. 11A-11C.

Referring again to FIGS. 4-6 of the drawings, under circumstances wherethe universal dolly 1 is configured in mowing configuration, the wheels30 are arranged on the dolly frame 2 with two of the wheels 30 disposedin opposite side wheel receptacles 32 by operation of the stub axle 38in the wheel mount brackets 33, while a third wheel 30 is similarlyattached to the middle one of the rear wheel receptacles 40, asindicated in the FIG. 6. The line trimming apparatus 9 is then attachedto the dolly frame 2 by inserting the motor coupling flange 11 in thedolly motor coupling opening 6, such that the apparatus handle 14 isspaced from the brace bracket 25, opposite the concave surface 26, andthe flange tabs 13 initially register with the corresponding dollycoupling slots 7 and a twisting or turning of the motor 10 in thecounterclockwise direction then engages the flange tabs 13 with the locktabs 18 (FIG. 3) and the dolly coupling tabs 8 of the dolly motorcoupling opening 6, with the apparatus handle 14 adjacent the bracebracket 25. Accordingly, this maneuver causes the apparatus handle 14 toalign with and engage the concave surface 26 of the brace bracket 25, asthe shaft collar 21, slidably mounted on the apparatus handle 14, isdepressed against the bias of the shaft collar spring 22, seated on thespring pin 23. The shaft collar 21 is then released to slide over thebrace bracket 25, thus securing the line trimming apparatus 9 in thedolly frame 2 of the universal dolly 1 and facilitating use of theuniversal dolly 1 in mowing configuration.

Under circumstances where the universal dolly 1 is oriented in the sidetrimmer configuration for trimming along a fence 42, for example, thewheels 30 are arranged as illustrated in FIG. 7. Accordingly, a pair ofwheels 30 are mounted in the two outer rear wheel receptacles 40 usingthe stub axles 38 of the wheel mount brackets 33, such that the twowheels 30 are aligned with each other, and the line trimming apparatus 9is secured in position on the dolly frame 2 as described above withrespect to FIG. 6 in mowing configuration. The trimming orientation ofthe universal dolly 1 facilitates traversal of the universal dolly 1along the fence 42 and allows close cropping or trimming of the grass 43along and beneath the fence 42, using a suitable cutting element 45,attached to the shaft (not illustrated) of the motor 10.

Under circumstances where the universal dolly 1 is to be positioned inthe edging configuration, for example along the edge of a sidewalk 44 asillustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, a pair of the wheels 30 are mounted on theupward standing, spaced-apart pair of front wheel receptacles 36, usingthe stub axles 38 of the wheel mount brackets 33, as indicated above.Furthermore, the line trimming apparatus 9 is mounted on the dolly frame2 as indicated with respect to the side trimmer and mowingconfigurations described above, such that the dolly frame 2 can bepositioned in the upright, vertical configuration illustrated in FIGS. 8and 9 and moved along the sidewalk 43 to trim the grass 43 at the edgeof the sidewalk 43 as indicated.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that substantiallyany type of line or alternative cutting element connecting, coupling orstoring mechanism such as the spool 45 a, can be used in the linetrimming apparatus 9 and attached to the revolving portion or shaft (notillustrated) of the motor 10 to facilitate cutting grass using theuniversal dolly 1 or the line trimming apparatus 9 with the guard 19.Accordingly, the shaft of the motor 10 may be provided with an adaptoror adaptors or a spool of suitable design for receiving cutting stringor line, or slots may be provided in the adaptor for fitting variouscutting implements or elements, including plastic cutting elements orthe like, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.Furthermore, the motor 10 may be energized by a battery, as well as afixed power source and many different types of line trimmers can be usedin place of the line trimming apparatus 9, regardless of design.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made therein and the appended chains are intended to cover allsuch modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above,what is claimed is:
 1. A dolly system for a line trimming apparatuscomprising a dolly frame adapted to support a line trimming apparatusthereon, said dolly frame including a coupling portion for connectingsaid dolly system to said line trimming apparatus, first and secondopposed wheel receptacles for receiving wheel mounting brackets forfirst and second opposed support wheels, a third wheel receptacle forreceiving a wheel mounting bracket for a third support wheel forsupporting said line trimming apparatus in one of a mower and trimmerconfiguration, and fourth and fifth wheel receptacles for receivingwheel mounting brackets for respective support wheels for supportingsaid line trimming apparatus in an edger configuration wherein saidcoupling portion includes an opening in said dolly frame including aplurality of circumferentially spaced tabs cooperating withcorresponding tabs on said line trimming apparatus for receiving saidline trimming apparatus in a twist and lock coupling between said linetrimming apparatus and said dolly; at least one of said tabs on saiddolly comprises a resiliently deflectable lock tab for forcibly engaginga cooperating tab on said line trimming apparatus to releasably locksaid line trimming apparatus to said dolly; and said system includes agenerally planar guard member including an opening formed therein andlock tabs formed thereon for releasable engagement with correspondingtabs on said line trimming apparatus to be used when the line trimmingapparatus is not in one of the mower, trimmer and edger configuration.2. In combination, a line trimming apparatus having a rotatable cuttingelement and a coupling flange including a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced alternating slots and tabs formed thereon, a dolly for supportingsaid line trimming apparatus for operation as at least one of a mower,edger and trimmer, said dolly including a coupling opening comprising aplurality of circumferentially spaced tabs cooperable with correspondingtabs on said coupling flange and for receiving said line trimmingapparatus in a twist and lock coupling between said line trimmingapparatus and said dolly and a generally planar guard member includingan opening formed therein and characterized by tabs for releasableengagement with corresponding tabs on said coupling flange whereby saidline trimming apparatus may be used as a hand carried trimming apparatuswith said guard attached thereto and said guard may be disconnected fromsaid coupling flange so that said line trimming apparatus may beconnected to said dolly for use as one of said mower, edger and trimmer.3. The combination set forth in claim 2 wherein: said dolly includes aframe including first and second opposed wheel connectors thereon forreceiving wheel mounting brackets for first and second opposed supportwheels, and a third wheel connector for a wheel mounting bracket for athird support wheel for supporting said line trimming apparatus in amower configuration.
 4. The combination set forth in claim 3 including:fourth and fifth wheel connectors for wheel mounting brackets forrespective support wheels for supporting said line trimming apparatus inan edger configuration.
 5. A dolly for a line trimming apparatuscomprising a dolly frame adapted to support a line trimming apparatusthereon, said dolly frame including a coupling portion for connectingsaid dolly to said line trimming apparatus, first and second opposedwheel receptacles for receiving wheel mounting brackets for first andsecond opposed support wheels, a third wheel receptacle for receiving awheel mounting bracket for a third support wheel for supporting saidline trimming apparatus in a configuration alternatively selected fromthe ground consisting of a mower configuration and a trimmerconfiguration, and fourth and fifth wheel receptacles for receivingwheel mounting brackets for respective support wheels for supportingsaid line trimming apparatus in an edger configuration and, wherein thefirst and second opposed wheel receptacles and third, fourth and fifthwheel receptacles are each star-shaped wheel receptacles and wherein thewheel mounting brackets are rectangular and adapted to fit within firstand second opposed wheel receptacles and third, fourth and fifth wheelreceptacles to adjust the height of the dolly.
 6. A dolly for a linetrimming apparatus comprising a dolly frame adapted to support a linetrimming apparatus thereon, said dolly frame including a couplingportion for connecting said dolly to said line trimming apparatus, firstand second opposed wheel receptacles for receiving wheel mountingbrackets for first and second opposed support wheels, a third wheelreceptacle for receiving a wheel mounting bracket for a third supportwheel for supporting said line trimming apparatus in a configurationalternatively selected from the group consisting of a mowerconfiguration and a trimmer configuration, and fourth and fifth wheelreceptacles for receiving wheel mounting brackets for respective supportwheels for supporting said line trimming apparatus in an edgerconfiguration and, wherein the wheel mounting brackets are rectangularand adapted to fit within first and second opposed wheel receptacles andthird, fourth and fifth wheel receptacles to adjust the height of thedolly and, wherein the dolly may be adjusted to at least three differentheights by rotating the wheel mounting brackets in the first and secondopposed wheel receptacles and the third, fourth and fifth wheelreceptacles, wherein the first and second opposed wheel receptacles andthe third, fourth, and fifth wheel receptacles are each star-shapedwheel receptacles.